Jefferson Opens New State-of-the-Art Campus in Carrollton

Aug 9, 2017

Carrollton, Ky. (August 9, 2017) – After more than three decades in Carrollton, Jefferson Community
& Technical College finally has its own campus to call home. Kentucky Secretary of
Education and Workforce Development Hal Heiner joined Kentucky Community & Technical
College System (KCTCS) president Dr. Jay Box and Jefferson President Dr. Ty Handy
in officially opening the 30-acre educational hub situated adjacent to General Butler
State Park.

A robotic arm, fittingly, cut the ribbon alongside area dignitaries to celebrate the
new $16 million, 48-thousand-square-foot facility which houses more than $2 million
in high-tech equipment for the college’s Electrical Engineering, Applied Process Technology,
and Welding programs. The Carrollton Campus also offers courses that will transfer
to state universities for students pursuing four-year and other credentials and diplomas.

“Jefferson has been a part of the fabric of this community for so many years and we
are proud to be changing the landscape both figuratively and literally,” said Handy.
“We are growing the offerings which lead to the careers that make our area of the
commonwealth more prosperous, thereby making Kentucky more prosperous.”

Completion of the project was a true community effort. The Carrollton College Educational
Foundation, Inc., led by its president and Jefferson Board of Directors member Dennis
Goff, worked for years to gain fiscal support for the project. KCTCS pledged $12 million
to the construction, but matching funds were also needed. A BuildSmart Steering Committee
propelled by Ruth Baxter, former county judge Harold "Shorty" Tomlinson, and numerous
community leaders, raised an additional $4 million for a 25% match.

“As the job market requires employees to be more educated, and the world market requires
Kentucky to be more competitive, it’s imperative that we continue to invest in projects
like the Carrollton Campus,” said Box. “It’s all about helping students get the education
they need so they can have better lives. This leads to a better community and a better
Kentucky.”

The Leed Certified energy efficient structure represents the coming full circle of
the Carrollton higher education learning experience. Classes were first held at a
strip mall on Highway 227 decades ago before moving to a hundred-year-old building
that was formerly a department store. The college now returns to Highway 227, but
this time on its own property.

About Jefferson Community & Technical College

Jefferson Community & Technical College is the largest of the 16 colleges forming
the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. JCTC prepares students for transfer
into baccalaureate programs and for high wage, high demand careers. Follow us on Twitter
at https://twitter.com/jeffersonctc and Facebook at www.facebook.com/JeffersonCTC.

About Kentucky Community & Technical College System

The Kentucky Community and Technical College System is the Commonwealth’s largest
postsecondary institution with 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses. We also are
Kentucky’s largest provider of workforce training and online education. Through partnerships
with business and industry, we align our programs to meet the needs of local employers.
We help students fulfill their dreams of creating a better life through programs that
lead directly to jobs or help them transfer to one of our four-year partners.